‘You heard.’ Shauna eyed the girl. Kylie reminded her a little of herself – she was tough, and bold. Shauna didn’t want any woman like that hanging around Connor. If he ever got married – and she really hoped he wouldn’t – then it would have to be to someone of her choosing, a girl who was soft enough to do as she was told by her mother-in-law.

‘Right.’ Kylie’s mouth closed in a tight line. Then she said: ‘Well, it might cost you dearer than you think.’

‘Oh come on.’ Shauna eyed her sceptically. ‘You’re not about to pronounce your undying love for him, are you? Don’t make me laugh.’

‘No, what I am about to say is that I’m pregnant.’

That gave Shauna a jolt, but she hid it well. ‘And you’re trying to say it’s his? I bet a tramp like you has slept with all sorts.’

Kylie’s mouth tightened even more. ‘Look,’ she said sharply. ‘It’s Connor’s. No one else’s. You really want me to walk away? He’ll never see his damned kid and neither will you, Granny.’

That felt like a slap in the face. Shauna’s stare never wavered.

‘Good,’ she rapped out. ‘He don’t need that sort of distraction in his life, and I don’t need some dirty bastard’s spunk-bubble being passed off as my grandkid.’

‘You fucking—’ started Kylie.

Shauna stood up. ‘Now, you know what? You’ve annoyed me. So I’m not paying. Not a single solitary bean. But listen good to me now, honey, because I won’t be repeating myself. You fuck off. If I ever see your scrawny arse around my boy again, you’ll be sorry.’

Kylie stood up too, gathered up her coat and bag, her colour high with temper. ‘You know what? I feel sorry for him, having a cold, controlling bitch of a mother like you. But you don’t scare me. I’ll do what I bloody well like. You can fuck off.’

Shaking with rage, Shauna picked up the phone and tapped in the number. Bill answered, and he passed her over to Jeb.

‘That job I thought might come up? Well, it has,’ she said, her heart pounding hard.

She gave Jeb the details.

A week later, Kylie was getting into her car after leaving work at the salon when someone knocked her down with a punch to the jaw. While she was laid out on the road, dazed, someone in heavy workmen’s boots kicked Connor’s baby out of her. Then as Kylie lay there, cut, bleeding, her insides cramping with horrible pain, the man standing over her said: ‘Shauna sends her regards.’

Then he walked away.

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